ST Media Procedures and Calendar 09-10

PRESS ROOM

Short Track Media Availability Guidelines and Procedures – Olympic Year

Basic Principles

Speed Skating Canada has a strong desire to establish a strong partnership with the media in order to help promote short track speed skating. We wish to offer media opportunities to meet the athletes, get to know them and share their stories in the lead up to and at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. To capitalize on the most opportune timeframes and ensure the athletes’ optimal preparation and training that will be critical to their success in Vancouver, a calendar of media availabilities has been developped.
The calendar shared with media shows all windows of availability. Requests other than these may be considered only under special circumstances, in which case they will be discussed with the Team Leader.

General Process

All interview requests must go through Speed Skating Canada’s Communications Manager who will be the Short Track Media Attaché at the Games
During events, the process will mirror the Games time process as much as possible
Unless noted otherwise in the calendar, all availabilities are at both training centres (Montréal and Calgary). Timing may vary based on training programs

Specific Process for the various opportunities

Media

One hour availability post training, or post races during competitions. No interviews will be granted prior to a race during a competition.
On these occasions, media advisories will be circulated a minimum of five days prior to the event
This is the only time when media can simply show up for interviews, as athletes will all be available post training or racing
Specific times may be different for men and women. All this will be outlined in the advisory

Media tbc

Athletes will be available on those days, post training when appropriate, but only upon confirmation from the media that they require a specific athlete
Media advisories will not be sent for each of these events as they are almost on a weekly basis at some point. However timing will be provided to any media sending a request for an interview
All media requesting interviews with athletes must send an official request a minimum of 48 hours prior to the date outlined in the calendar
Upon reception of all requests, they will be evaluated and schedules will be done for the requested athletes. Timing of interviews will then be communicated to the media at least 24 hours prior to the interview
Only requested athletes will be available for pre-booked interviews, and no drop-in interviews will be granted

Media CGY

Same process as above, with a 48 hours confirmation needed, but for Calgary-based athletes only

Media PC

No specific process, these are the various press conferences we are organizing. With the exception of the pre-selection press conference in Montreal and Vancouver, all athletes will be available at the various press conferences
In Montreal and Vancouver late July and early August, athletes will not attend the press conference but will be available just before or after for interviews from the media

Team Announcement

This is the official Olympic Team Announcement. We are looking at doing a simultaneous video conference in Montréal and Calgary, so a formal part would be done in Montréal, with video feed in Calgary, followed by a group question period for both cities together, ending with individual interviews in both Montréal and Calgary

Teleconferences

Teleconferences will be held while the team is away for World Cup events, at the end of days when medals are presented
The process is the same as it has been for the last two years: all medallists will be available on the call, or the top two Canadian athletes from that day. If members of the media wish to speak with a specific athlete, they may do so by confirming with SSC’s Communications Manager a minimum of two hours prior to the teleconference
Media advisories will be sent the week leading up to each World Cup to outline details

Period for longer interviews

Interviews longer than 20 minutes, but of a reasonable length of time, may be conducted during these periods
Requests must be sent to SSC’s Communications Manager a minimum of one week prior to the start of the availability period
The process will be slightly different for the first period (August 26th to September 4th) as the Olympic Team will only be named on August 26th. For this time period, last minute requests for athletes who were not identified ahead of time will be accepted up until August 28th and confirmations will be sent as soon as possible following that date.
All requests will be evaluated with coaches, and schedules will be made for all athletes requested. Please note that we may not be able to field every request.
Media will be informed of whether their request will be granted or not a minimum of 48 hours prior to the availability period.